Soft doesn’t win

Good as the defense was — it cannot be blamed for the result — it failed when it mattered most.

More disconcerting was how soft Sidney Jones was on coverage downfield against Amari Cooper on the 28-yard touchdown pass that put the Cowboys back in the lead for the first time in the fourth quarter.

Technically, Cooper pushed off. But Jones, who was considered at the time to be the steal of the 2017 draft after falling to the second round because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, simply was just too soft on that play.

This is no different than the NBA. Soft players don’t get the calls.

Maybe Cre’Von LeBlanc, who supposedly is not as skilled but doesn’t play soft, would have fared better.

Certainly De’Vante Bausby didn’t. He was called on to replace Jones on the next series and was promptly burned for a 75-yard touchdown. Safety Corey Graham’s late arrival also didn’t help.

To be fair, Jones has been battling injuries this season. His strained hamstring has held him back. He’s not close to 100 percent.

Afterward, Jones spoke about that.

Softly.

“The hammy has been frustrating,” he said. “It lingers. Just trying to get healthy at the end of the day.”

Jones came out a couple of times because of the injury but felt compelled to go back in because starters Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills are out for the year and Avonte Maddox remains out indefinitely.

“I’d go on the sideline, check it out,” Jones said. “It was hurting. But I was like, `I’ve got to go back in, it’s do or die.’ ”

Protection fails

What used to be a mismatch that worked in the Eagles’ favor for the better part of 10 seasons is now working the other way.

Left tackle Jason Peters now is more of a liability than an asset against speed rushers and was exposed again on the team’s first series by Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory.

On further review, the officials ruled that, yes, Jourdan Lewis fumbled. But they could not be clear on who recovered.

Cowboys ball at their 18.

That proved to be huge, considering the farthest the Eagles advanced the ball in the first half was to the Dallas 37.

Afterward, safety Malcolm Jenkins called it a “terrible” call and offered these biting words: “Whoever was watching in New York should stay off the bottle.”

Bad Break II

Really not a bad break so much as a shortcoming. Kicker Jake Elliott missed the extra point after the Eagles’ first TD.

Snap was good, hold was good. Just pushed it wide right.

No inside presence

The Eagles have played without DT Tim Jernigan (back injury) for all but 20 snaps this season, and 34-year-old Haloti Ngata has played mostly like he’s 44.

The result?

Big holes in the middle of the defense for dynamic runners like Zeke Elliott to run through. Elliott on Sunday had 72 yards by halftime and 113 for the game.

Like Peters on offense, their once-formidable run defense, which had come to be taken for granted, has become a liability — and it needs to be the top priority in the offseason. Nothing else should even be a close second.

With the 2019 draft expected to be loaded with defensive tackles, you can almost be certain that’s the position that will be addressed first.

No pass rush

The Eagles sacked Prescott just three times in 59 dropbacks. Not good enough by any standard.

No offense

The Eagles had just four first downs, 70 yards and no points at halftime.

Doesn’t matter what you do in the second half when you play that poorly.

“It’s frustrating,” Carson Wentz said. “It’s absolutely frustrating with the talent that we feel we have on the offensive side of the ball. We just couldn’t execute, couldn’t sustain drives and came up short here and there. Without a doubt it’s frustrating.”

Wentz finished 22 for 32 for 228 yards and three TDs. But the running game produced just 34 yards. Only 12 running plays were even called.